Proxy device receiving specific data from instruction device in response to transmitted response data and transmitting specific data to outputting device which outputs an image and location data indicating a location in which the output data is stored

ABSTRACT

In a proxy device, an acquiring unit acquires one of outputting-device-identification data and instruction-device-identification data from a storing unit. The storing unit stores the outputting-device-identification data associated with the instruction-device-identification data. A first determining unit determines whether the acquired outputting-device-identification data is associated with the received instruction-device-identification data. A first transmitting unit transmits the received instruction data to the particular outputting device. A second receiving unit receives response data from the outputting device. A second transmitting unit transmits the received response data to the instruction device from which the received instruction data is transmitted. A third receiving unit receives specific data that is transmitted from the instruction device. The specific data is one of output data based on which the outputting device outputs an image and location data indicating a location of the output data. A third transmitting unit transmits the received specific data to the outputting device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/423,964, filed Mar. 19, 2012, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2011-121514 filed May 31, 2011. The entirecontents of the above noted applications are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a proxy device connected to a terminal deviceand an image-outputting device.

BACKGROUND

Japanese patent application publication No. 2001-101091 describes asystem that includes a client, a proxy server, and a printer. In thissystem, the client transmits the URL for a file to be printed and aprint command to the printer. The printer transfers the file URL to aproxy server. The proxy server acquires the file identified by the URLfrom a file server and returns this file to the printer. The printerthen performs a printing operation based on the file received from theproxy server.

SUMMARY

With the conventional technology described above, the proxy serveracquires a file from the file server using a file acquisition requestwhen the client transmits the file URL and print command to the printer,and the proxy server must store the acquired file until the printer hascompleted the printing operation. This can lead to problems with storagecapacity if the proxy server must store a large volume of data. Theinvention in the following specification provides a technology capableof overcoming such disadvantages.

In order to attain the above and other objects, the invention provides aproxy device. The proxy device may include a communication unitconfigured to communicate with a plurality of outputting devices and aplurality of instruction devices, and a processor. The processor mayfunction as an acquiring unit, a first receiving unit, a firstdetermining unit, a first transmitting unit, a second receiving unit, asecond transmitting unit, a third receiving unit, and a thirdtransmitting unit. The acquiring unit may acquire at least one ofoutputting-device-identification data andinstruction-device-identification data from a storing unit. Theoutputting-device-identification data may identify a particularoutputting device from among the plurality of outputting devices. Theinstruction-device-identification data identifies a particularinstruction device from among the plurality of instruction devices. Thestoring unit may store the outputting-device-identification dataassociated with the instruction-device-identification data. The firstreceiving unit may receive, via the communication unit,instruction-device-identification data and instruction data. The firstdetermining unit may determine whether the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data. The first transmitting unit maytransmit, via the communication unit, the received instruction data tothe particular outputting device in response to determining that theparticular outputting device identified by the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data in the storing unit. Theinstruction data may instruct the determined outputting device to outputan image. The second receiving unit may receive, via the communicationunit, response data from the particular outputting device in response tothe instruction data transmitted by the first transmitting unit. Thesecond transmitting unit may transmit, via the communication unit, thereceived response data to the instruction device from which the receivedinstruction data is transmitted. The third receiving unit may receive,via the communication unit, specific data that is transmitted from theinstruction device in response to the response data transmitted to theinstruction device by the second transmitting unit. The specific datamay be one of output data based on which the outputting device outputsan image and location data indicating a location in which the outputdata is stored. The third transmitting unit may transmit the receivedspecific data to the particular outputting device.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a system. The systemmay include a proxy server, a plurality of outputting devicescommunicable with the proxy server via a local area network andInternet, and a plurality of instruction devices communicable with theproxy server. The proxy device may include a communication unitconfigured to communicate with a plurality of outputting devices and aplurality of instruction devices, and a processor. The processor mayfunction as an acquiring unit, a first receiving unit, a firstdetermining unit, a first transmitting unit, a second receiving unit, asecond transmitting unit, a third receiving unit, and a thirdtransmitting unit. The acquiring unit may acquire at least one ofoutputting-device-identification data andinstruction-device-identification data from a storing unit. Theoutputting-device-identification data may identify a particularoutputting device from among the plurality of outputting devices. Theinstruction-device-identification data identifies a particularinstruction device from among the plurality of instruction devices. Thestoring unit may store the outputting-device-identification dataassociated with the instruction-device-identification data. The firstreceiving unit may receive, via the communication unit,instruction-device-identification data and instruction data. The firstdetermining unit may determine whether the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data. The first transmitting unit maytransmit, via the communication unit, the received instruction data tothe particular outputting device in response to determining that theparticular outputting device identified by the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data in the storing unit. Theinstruction data may instruct the determined outputting device to outputan image. The second receiving unit may receive, via the communicationunit, response data from the particular outputting device in response tothe instruction data transmitted by the first transmitting unit. Thesecond transmitting unit may transmit, via the communication unit, thereceived response data to the instruction device from which the receivedinstruction data is transmitted. The third receiving unit may receive,via the communication unit, specific data that is transmitted from theinstruction device in response to the response data transmitted to theinstruction device by the second transmitting unit. The specific datamay be one of output data based on which the outputting device outputsan image and location data indicating a location in which the outputdata is stored. The third transmitting unit may transmit the receivedspecific data to the particular outputting device.

According to another aspect, the invention provides an outputting devicethat outputting-device-identification data identifies. The outputtingmay include a communication unit communicable with a proxy device viaInternet; an outputting unit configured to output an image; and aprocessor. The processor may function as a requesting unit, a firstreceiving unit, a transmitting unit, a second receiving unit, and aperforming unit. The requesting unit may transmit, via the communicationunit, request data requesting the proxy device to store theoutputting-device-identification data in association withinstruction-device-identification data identifying an instruction devicewith which the proxy device communicable. The first receiving unit mayreceive instruction data that the proxy device relays, in response tothe request data transmitted by the requesting unit, from theinstruction device identified by the instruction-device-identificationdata stored in association with the outputting-device-identificationdata, the instruction data instructing the outputting unit to output theimage. The transmitting unit may transmit response data when thereceiving unit receives the instruction data and when the outputtingunit outputs the image. The second receiving unit may receive specificdata that the proxy device relays from the instruction device inresponse to the response data transmitted by the transmitting unit. Thespecific data may be one of output data based on which the outputtingdevice outputs an image and location data indicating a location in whichthe output data is stored. The performing unit may perform a process tooutput the image by using the outputting unit in response to thespecific data received by the second receiving unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a printing system including a proxy server according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first part of a whole process ofthe proxy server;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a second part of the whole process ofthe proxy server that is subsequent to the first process;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a third part of the whole process ofthe proxy server that is subsequent to the second process;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first part of a whole process of aMFP;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second first part of the wholeprocess of a MFP that is subsequent to the first part;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a third part of the whole process ofa MFP that is subsequent to the second part;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an anterior half of a whole processof a mobile telephone;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a posterior half of the whole processof the mobile telephone; and

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of the printing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system 1 includes a mobile telephone 10,a multifunction peripheral (MFP) 51, an access point 62, a proxy server71, and a base station 61. The mobile telephone 10 and the MFP 51function as wireless LAN terminal devices well known in the art. The MFP51 is also provided with a printer function, a scanner function, and acopier function. The access point 62 functions as a wireless LAN accesspoint known in the art. The proxy server 71 is connected to the basestation 61 and access point 62 via an Internet 70.

The mobile telephone 10 is capable of performing wireless communications210 with the base station 61 according to a method of mobile telephonecommunications, while the MFP 51 is capable of performing wirelesscommunications 203 with the access point 62, exchanging digital signalsrepresenting various data. In addition, the base station 61, the accesspoint 62, and the proxy server 71 can communicate with each other viathe Internet 70. Hence, the proxy server 71 can perform datacommunications with the MFP 51 and the mobile telephone 10. The methodof communications used by the wireless LAN system conforms to thestandard IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, for example.

Structure of the Proxy Server

Next, the structure of the proxy server 71 will be described. The proxyserver 71 serves as a proxy for coordinating various data communicationsbetween a plurality of clients over a network. Here, the client is themobile telephone 10, the MFP 51, for example. The proxy server 71 isprimarily configured of a central processing unit (CPU) 72, a storageunit 73, and a communication unit 74. All of these components areinterconnected via input/output ports 76.

The CPU 72 executes programs stored in the storage unit 73. Thecommunication unit 74 exchanges various information with the mobiletelephone 10, the MFP 51, and the like through communications.

The storage unit 73 includes a combination of a random access memory(hereinafter, referred to as RAM), a read-only memory (hereinafter,referred to as ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, and a buffer providedfor the CPU 72. The storage unit 73 stores programs 21. The programs 21include a printing application 28 and an operating system (hereinafter,referred to as OS) 29. The OS 29 further includes a program forcontrolling the communication unit 74 to implement communications. TheOS 29 also provides an application programming interface (hereinafter,referred to as API) through which programs can acquire data acquired byvarious hardware or through which the programs can command the hardware.The printing application 28 serves to instruct the CPU 72 to implementoperations on the printing system 1, as will be described later.

The storage unit 73 also has a table storage area 12 b. The tablestorage area 12 b is used to store such data as MFP identification data,user ID data, and a password, a proxy server address, a mobile telephoneaddress, and a printing status. The MFP identification data serves toidentify a specific MFP among a plurality of MFPs. The device serialnumber is one example of MFP identification data. The user ID data andthe password serve to identify a user who uses the printing system 1. Ausername is one example of the user ID data. The proxy server address isthe e-mail address of the proxy server 71. The proxy server address isused when transmitting various information and print data from themobile telephone 10 or the MFP 51 to the proxy server 71. A user or thelike may store this proxy server address in the table storage area 12 bin advance. The mobile telephone address is the e-mail address of themobile telephone 10. The mobile telephone address is used when the proxyserver 71 transmits various information to the mobile telephone 10. Theprinting status is data representing the current state of the printingsystem 1. One of four states is saved as the printing status. The fourstates include an initial state, a printing-reserved state, adata-requested state, and a data-provision waiting state. The printingstatus is one byte worth of data. In the embodiment, the printing statusis set to the values “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” for the “initial state,”“printing-reserved state,” “data-requested state,” and “data-provisionwaiting state,” respectively.

Structure of the Mobile Telephone

Next, the structure of the mobile telephone 10 will be described. Asshown in FIG. 1, the mobile telephone 10 primarily includes a CPU 11, astorage unit 12, a button input unit 17, a panel 18, a mobile telephonetransceiver unit 22, a mobile telephone antenna unit 23, and a cameraunit 27. The CPU 11 executes programs stored in the storage unit 12. Themobile telephone 10 is also provided with a speaker 3 and a microphone 4for implementing a telephone call and voice input. All of the abovecomponents are interconnected via an input/output port 7.

The mobile telephone transceiver unit 22 implements wirelesscommunications 210 with the base station 61 via the mobile telephoneantenna unit 23 in conformance with a mobile telephone communicationmethod. The button input unit 17 and the camera unit 27 acceptoperations performed by the user of the mobile telephone 10. The panel18 displays information about the functions of the mobile telephone 10.The camera unit 27 photographs a prescribed range of view with acharge-coupled device or the like to acquire image data. The structureof the storage unit 12 is identical to the storage unit 73 of the proxyserver 71 described above and, hence, will not be described here.

Structure of the MFP

Next, the structure of the MFP 51 will be described. The MFP 51primarily includes a CPU 32, a storage unit 33, a wireless transceiverunit 36, a wireless antenna unit 37, a button input unit 38, a displaypanel 39, a printer 19, and a scanner 20, all of which components areinterconnected via an input/output port 43.

The CPU 32 executes programs stored in the storage unit 33. The buttoninput unit 38 includes keys for implementing various functions of theMFP 51. The display panel 39 displays various functional data for theMFP 51. The printer 19 executes printing operations. The scanner 20executes image-reading operations. The structure of the storage unit 33is identical to that of the storage unit 73 provided in the proxy server71 and, hence, will not be described here.

Next, operations of the printing system 1 according to the embodimentwill be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 11. First, anoverview of the printing system 1 will be described.

When the mobile telephone 10 instructs the MFP 51 to perform a printingoperation, the mobile telephone 10 first notifies the proxy server 71with a print reservation, rather than sending the print data itself. Theproxy server 71 stores data indicating the print reservation.

When receiving a print reservation confirmation request from the MFP 51,the proxy server 71 notifies the MFP 51 whether a print reservationexists. The print reservation confirmation request is data that the MFP51 transmits to the proxy server 71 to inquire whether the mobiletelephone 10 has transmitted a print reservation to the proxy server 71.The print reservation confirmation request also includes user ID dataand a password from which the MFP 51 is identified.

If a print reservation has been made, the MFP 51 transmits a print datarequest to the proxy server 71 when the MFP 51 is ready to execute theprinting operation. Upon receiving the print data request from the MFP51, the proxy server 71 issues a request to the mobile telephone 10 forthe print data. When the print data is received from the mobiletelephone 10, the proxy server 71 transfers this print data to the MFP51. The MFP 51 receives the print data and executes the printingoperation.

Operations of the Proxy Server

Next, the operations of the proxy server 71 will be described withreference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 2 through 4. In S210 at thebeginning of the process in FIG. 2, the CPU 72 determines whether a useregistration request transmitted according to HTTP has been receivedfrom the MFP 51. The use registration request is data requestinginitiation of a use registration process. The use registration processis performed to register the MFP 51 on the proxy server 71 in order thatthe proxy server 71 can control the MFP 51 to perform printingoperations based on user commands received from the mobile telephone 10.The use registration request includes data indicating that the requestis a use registration request, and MFP identification data identifyingthe MFP 51. The MFP identification data enables the proxy server 71 torecognize the MFP 51, and more specifically is a device serial numberthat was stored in the MFP 51 at the factory. The use registrationprocess may be performed one time when the user wishes to register theMFP 51 on the proxy server 71.

When the proxy server 71 receives a use registration request (S210:YES), in S212 the CPU 72 reads the MFP identification data from the useregistration request received from the MFP 51 and stores this data inthe storage unit 73. In this case, the CPU 72 stores the MFPidentification data identifying the MFP 51 that transmitted the useregistration request. In S214 the CPU 72 generates user ID data andstores this data in the storage unit 73. The user ID data is a uniquecharacter string that enables the user to recognize the MFP 51 registerson the proxy server 71. In S216 the CPU 72 controls the communicationunit 74 to transmit the user ID data and the proxy server address to theMFP 51. The proxy server address is the e-mail address of the proxyserver and is required when the mobile telephone 10 transmits e-mail tothe proxy server 71. The CPU 72 also issues a request to the MFP 51 fora password and the mobile telephone address, in order to confirm themobile telephone 10 that transmitted the print reservation. The mobiletelephone address is the e-mail address for the mobile telephone 10 thatenables the proxy server 71 to identify the source mobile telephone 10of the print reservation. The mobile telephone address also serves toidentify the user of the mobile telephone 10. In S218 the CPU 72determines whether a password and a mobile telephone address wasreceived from the MFP 51. The CPU 72 continually loops back to S218while the password and the mobile telephone address have not beenreceived (S218: NO) and advances to S220 when the data has been received(S218: YES).

In S220 the CPU 72 stores the password and the mobile telephone addressreceived from the mobile telephone 10 in the storage unit 73. Next, theCPU 72 stores the user ID data and the password in association with theMFP identification data in the table storage area 12 b of the storageunit 73. The CPU 72 also stores the status “initial state” in the tablestorage area 12 b in association with the MFP identification data, theuser ID data, and the password serving as data for identifying the MFP51. The CPU 72 also stores the data for identifying the MFP 51 in thetable storage area 12 b in association with the mobile telephoneaddress, serving as data for identifying the mobile telephone 10.

In S222 the CPU 72 controls the communication unit 74 to transmit aregistration-completed response to the MFP 51 and subsequently returnsto S210.

However, if the proxy server 71 has not received a use registrationrequest in S210 (S210: NO), in S230 the CPU 72 determines whether aprint reservation was received from the mobile telephone 10. The printreservation is data indicating that a reservation has been made for aprint job. The print reservation includes data indicating the printrequest, the mobile telephone address of the mobile telephone 10, andthe user ID data and the password for the MFP 51. One byte of data isused to specify the print request. In other words, the data indicating aprint request is smaller in size than the print data.

When a print reservation has been received (S230: YES), in S232 the CPU72 identifies the MFP identification data corresponding to the user IDdata and the password included in the print reservation by accessing thetable storage area 12 b. Next, the CPU 72 changes the printing statuscorresponding to the identified MFP identification data to“printing-reserved state.” In S234 the CPU 72 controls the communicationunit 74 to transmit a reservation-received notification to the mobiletelephone 10 and subsequently returns to S210. Note that if the mobiletelephone address included in the print reservation does not match themobile telephone address associated with the user ID data and thepassword included in the print reservation in S232, the CPU 72 simplyreturns to S210. In other words, when the print reservation receivedfrom the mobile telephone 10 does not include the user ID data, thepassword, and the mobile telephone address received from the MFP 51 thatare registered when the use registration request was performed for theMFP 51, it is probable that the print reservation was not received froma valid user. Therefore, in S232 the CPU 72 does not recognize thereceived print reservation as a valid reservation. When the CPU 72 doesnot recognize the received print reservation as a valid reservation inS232, the CPU 72 does not instruct the communication unit 74 to transmita reservation-received notification to the mobile telephone 10. Further,the CPU 72 does not change the print status corresponding to theidentified MFP identification data to the “printing-reserved state” andsimply returns to S210.

However, if a print reservation was not received from the mobiletelephone 10 in S230 (S230: NO), in S240 (see FIG. 3) the CPU 72determines whether a print reservation confirmation request was receivedfrom the MFP 51. If a print reservation confirmation request wasreceived (S240: YES), in S242 the CPU 72 identifies the MFPidentification data associated with the user ID data and the passwordincluded in the print reservation confirmation request by accessing thetable storage area 12 b. In S244 the CPU 72 determines whether thecurrent print status associated with the identified MFP identificationdata is the “printing-reserved state.” If the printing status iscurrently the “printing-reserved state” (S244: YES), in S246 the CPU 72controls the communication unit 74 to transmit response data indicating“print reservation exists” to the MFP 51. However, when the currentprinting status is not the “printing-reserved state” (S244: NO), in S248the CPU 72 controls the communication unit 74 to transmit response dataindicating “print reservation does not exist” to the MFP 51.Subsequently, the CPU 72 returns to S210.

On the other hand, when the CPU 72 determines in S240 that a printreservation confirmation request was not received from the MFP 51 (S240:NO), in S260 the CPU 72 determines whether a print data request wasreceived from the MFP 51. A print data request is data serving torequest that print data be transmitted to the MFP 51. The print datarequest includes the user ID data and the password for the MFP 51. Whena print data request has been received (S260: YES), in S261 the CPU 72controls the communication unit 74 to transmit a request-receivednotification to the MFP 51.

In S262 the CPU 72 identifies the MFP identification data associatedwith the user ID data and the password that were included in the printdata request by accessing the table storage area 12 b. In S264 the CPU72 determines whether the current status associated with the MFPidentification data identified in S262 is the “printing-reserved state.”The CPU 72 returns to S210 (see FIG. 2) when determining that theprinting status is not the “printing-reserved state” (S264: NO) andadvances to S266 when determining that the current state is the“printing-reserved state” (S264: YES). In S266 the CPU 72 changes theprinting status associated with the identified MFP identification datato the “data-requested state.”

In S268 the CPU 72 controls the communication unit 74 to transmit aprint data request to the mobile telephone 10. Specifically, the CPU 72transmits a print data request to the mobile telephone 10 through e-mailusing the mobile telephone address. The print data request istransmitted to the mobile telephone 10 identified by the mobiletelephone address associated with the MFP identification data identifiedin S262. That is, the CPU 72 transmits the print data request to themobile telephone 10 that transmitted the print reservation, that is, themobile telephone 10 that is identified by using the user ID and thepassword of the print data request.

In S269 the CPU 72 determines whether data was received from the mobiletelephone 10 indicating that the print data request was received, as aresponse to the print data request. The CPU 72 continues to loop back toS269 while a response has not been received from the mobile telephone 10(S269: NO) and advances to S210 (see FIG. 2) when a response has beenreceived (S269: YES).

On the other hand, when the CPU 72 determines in S260 that a print datarequest was not received from the MFP 51 (S260: NO), in S270 (see FIG.4) the CPU 72 determines whether print data, which is included in ane-mail, for example, was received from the mobile telephone 10. Theprint data is data used by the MFP 51 to perform a printing operation onthe printer 19.

When an e-mail including print data has been received (S270: YES), inS272 the CPU 72 accesses the table storage area 12 b to identify the MFPidentification data stored in association with the mobile telephoneaddress that was the source of the transmitted e-mail including theprint data. Thus, the mobile telephone address for the source of thetransmitted print data can be identified by exchanging print data ine-mail. This method improves security since the CPU 72 can confirmwhether the source of the e-mail used to transmit the print data matchesthe mobile telephone address registered by the user during the useregistration process for the MFP 51.

In S274 the CPU 72 determines whether the current printing statusassociated with the MFP identification data identified in S272 is the“data-requested state.” The CPU 72 returns to S210 when determining thatthe printing status is not the “data-requested state” (S274: NO) andadvances to S276 when determining that the current status is the“data-requested state” (S274: YES).

In S276 the CPU 72 stores the print data in the storage unit 73. Here,the print data received from the mobile telephone 10 may be stored as isin the storage unit 73 or may be stored after first being processed to aformat suitable for the MFP 51. In S278 the CPU 72 changes the printingstatus associated with the MFP identification data identified in S272 tothe “data-provision waiting state.” In S279 the CPU 72 controls thecommunication unit 74 to transmit data to the mobile telephone 10indicating that print data has been received. Subsequently, the CPU 72returns to S210 (see FIG. 2).

However, if the CPU 72 determines in S270 that print data was notreceived from the mobile telephone 10 (S270: NO), in S280 the CPU 72determines whether a print data acquisition request has been receivedfrom the MFP 51. A print data acquisition request is data requesting tobegin a process in which the MFP 51 acquires print data from the proxyserver 71. The print data acquisition request includes the user ID dataand the password of the MFP 51.

When the proxy server 71 receives a print data acquisition request(S280: YES), in S282 the CPU 72 identifies the MFP identification dataassociated with the user ID data and the password that were included inthe print data acquisition request by accessing the table storage area12 b. In S284 the CPU 72 determines whether the current printing statusstored in the table storage area 12 b is the “data-provision waitingstate.” The CPU 72 advances to S289 when the printing status is not the“data-provision waiting state” (S284: NO) and transmits data to the MFP51 indicating that no print data is stored. Subsequently, the CPU 72returns to S210.

However, when the current printing status is the “data-provision waitingstate” (S284: YES), in S286 the CPU 72 controls the communication unit74 to transmit the print data to the MFP 51 that transmitted the printdata request. In S288 the CPU 72 changes the printing status to the“initial state” and returns to S210 (see FIG. 2).

Operations of the MFP

Next, operations of the MFP 51 will be described with reference to theflowcharts in FIGS. 5 through 7. The process shown in the flowcharts ofFIGS. 5 through 7 begins when the MFP 51 is started.

Process for Transmitting a Use Registration Request, a Mobile TelephoneAddress, Etc.

In S108 of FIG. 5 the CPU 32 sets a print reservation confirmationtimer. The print reservation confirmation timer is used to determinewhether a second wait time has elapsed. In S110 the CPU 32 determineswhether the use registration process has been started. The useregistration process is performed in order to register the MFP 51 on theproxy server 71 in order to use the MFP 51 in the printing system 1. Inthis process, the MFP 51 acquires from the proxy server 71 the user IDdata with which the proxy server 71 has assigned the MFP 51, and a proxyserver address required when the mobile telephone 10 transmits e-mail tothe proxy server 71. Further, the MFP 51 transmits to the proxy server71 the password and the mobile telephone address that must be inputtedinto the mobile telephone 10 for a print reservation. The CPU 32 acceptsuser input through the button input unit 38 to register various data.

When the use registration process has been initiated (S110: YES), inS112 the CPU 32 uses the wireless transceiver unit 36 to transmit a useregistration request to the proxy server 71. Note that the URL of theproxy server 71 has already been stored in the MFP 51, and the MFP 51can use this URL to transmit the use registration request according toHTTP. The MFP identification data is included in the use registrationrequest. In S114 the CPU 32 determines whether the user ID data and theproxy server address was received from the proxy server 71 in response.The CPU 32 continually loops back to S114 while such data has not beenreceived (S114: NO) and advances to S116 when the data has been received(S114: YES). In S116 the CPU 32 stores the user ID data and the proxyserver address received in S114 in the storage unit 33. In S118 the CPU32 displays the user ID data and the proxy server address in the displaypanel 39 together with a window for inputting the password and themobile telephone address.

In S120 the CPU 32 determines whether the password and the mobiletelephone address were inputted via the button input unit 38 andcontinually loops back to S120 when such data has not been inputted(S120: NO).

When the password and the mobile telephone address have been inputted(S120: YES), in S122 the CPU 32 uses the wireless transceiver unit 36 totransmit the inputted password and the mobile telephone address to theproxy server 71. In S124 the CPU 32 determines whether aregistration-completed response was received from the proxy server 71.The CPU 32 returns to S114 if the registration-completed response wasnot received (S124: NO) and advances to S126 when the response wasreceived (S124: YES). In S126 the CPU 32 stores the password in thestorage unit 33, thereby completing the use registration process.Subsequently, the process returns to S110.

On the other hand, if the CPU 32 determines in S110 that the useregistration process has not been started (S110: NO), in S140 (see FIG.6) the CPU 32 determines whether the timing for acquiring print data hasarrived based on a print data acquisition timer. The print dataacquisition timer is used to determine whether a first wait time haselapsed and is set in S148 and S176 described later.

When the timing for print data acquisition has arrived (S140: YES), inS142 the CPU 32 uses the wireless transceiver unit 36 to transmit theprint data acquisition request to the proxy server 71. In S144 the CPU32 determines whether either print data or data indicating that no printdata is stored was received from the proxy server 71. The CPU 32 returnsto S144 when no response has been received (S144: NO).

However, when a response has been received (S144: YES), in S146 the CPU32 determines whether the print data was received. If the print data wasnot received (S146: NO), in S148 the CPU 32 sets the print dataacquisition timer and cancels the other timers. The CPU 32 subsequentlyreturns to S110 (see FIG. 5). However, if the print data was received inS146 (S146: YES), in S150 the CPU 32 uses the print data to execute aprinting operation on the printer 19. In S152 the CPU 32 sets the printreservation confirmation timer and cancels the other timers.Subsequently, the CPU 32 returns to S110 (see FIG. 5).

On the other hand, if the CPU 32 determines in S140 that the timing forthe print data acquisition has not arrived (S140: NO), in S160 (see FIG.7) the CPU 32 determines whether the print reservation confirmationtiming has arrived based on the print reservation confirmation timer.The print reservation confirmation timer is set in S108, S152, and S170(described later). If the timing for the print reservation confirmationhas not arrived (S160: NO), in S162 the CPU 32 executes other processes,such as a process using the scanner 20, and returns to S110 (see FIG.5). However, if the timing for the print reservation confirmation hasarrived (S160: YES), in S164 the CPU 32 uses the wireless transceiverunit 36 to transmit the print reservation confirmation request to theproxy server 71.

Here, the second wait time of the print reservation confirmation timeris set longer than the first wait time of the print data acquisitiontimer. In this way, the polling for print data acquisition (S142) can beperformed more frequently than the polling for confirming whether themobile telephone 10 has issued a print reservation (S164).

In S166 the CPU 32 determines whether the response data was receivedfrom the proxy server 71. The CPU 32 continually loops back to S166while the response data has not been received (S166: NO) and advances toS168 when the response data was received (S166: YES).

In S168 the CPU 32 determines whether a print reservation has beenissued. More specifically, the CPU 32 determines whether the responsedata received from the proxy server 71 indicates that the printingstatus is “print reservation exists.” If the status is “printreservation does not exist” (S168: NO), in S170 the CPU 32 sets theprint reservation confirmation timer and returns to S110 (see FIG. 5).However, if the status indicates “print reservation exists” (S168: YES),in S172 the CPU 32 uses the wireless transceiver unit 36 to transmit aprint data request to the proxy server 71.

In S174 the CPU 32 determines whether the request-received notificationwas received from the proxy server 71. The CPU 32 continually loops backto S174 while the request-received notification has not been received(S174: NO) and advances to S176 when the notification has been received(S174: YES). In S176 the CPU 32 sets the print data acquisition timerand cancels all other timers. Subsequently, the CPU 32 returns to S110(see FIG. 5).

Operations of the Mobile Telephone

Next, the operations of the mobile telephone 10 will be described withreference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 8 and 9. The process described inFIGS. 8 and 9 begins when the mobile telephone 10 is started. In S310 ofFIG. 8, the CPU 11 determines whether a print reservation process hasbeen started. The print reservation process is performed to control theMFP 51 to print the print data.

When the CPU 11 determines that the print reservation process has begun(S310: YES), in S312 the CPU 11 displays a window on the panel 18 forinputting the user ID data and the password. When the user hasregistered the MFP 51 on the proxy server 71, the MFP 51 displays theuser ID data received from the proxy server 71 on the display panel 39in S118. When the MFP 51 is registered on the proxy server 71, in S120the user inputs the password and the mobile telephone address throughthe button input unit 38. Hence, the user that registered the MFP 51 onthe proxy server 71 can input through the button input unit 17 of themobile telephone 10 the user ID data displayed in the display panel 39of the MFP 51 and the password registered on the proxy server 71 throughthe button input unit 38 of the MFP 51.

In S314 the CPU 11 determines whether operations performed by the userto input the user ID data and the password were received through thebutton input unit 17. The CPU 11 continually loops back to S314 whilethe input has not been received (S314: NO) and advances to S316 when theinput has been received (S314: YES). In S316 the CPU 11 transmits aprint reservation including the inputted user ID data and the passwordto the proxy server 71. Note that the URL of the proxy server 71 hasalready been stored in the mobile telephone 10 and the CPU 11 uses theURL of the proxy server 71 to transmit a print reservation according toHTTP.

In S318 the CPU 11 determines whether a reservation-receivednotification was received from the proxy server 71. The CPU 11continually loops back to S318 while a reservation-received notificationhas not been received (S318: NO) and advances to S320 when anotification has been received (S318: YES). In S320 the CPU 11 displaysa message on the panel 18 indicating that the reservation has beencompleted and subsequently returns to S310.

However, if the CPU 11 determines in S310 that a print reservationprocess has not been initiated (S310: NO), in S330 (see FIG. 9) the CPU11 determines whether the print data request was received from the proxyserver 71. If a print data request was received (S330: YES), in S331 theCPU 11 uses the mobile telephone transceiver unit 22 to transmit data tothe proxy server 71 indicating that the print data request was received.

In S332 the CPU 11 displays a window on the panel 18 for selecting printdata to be transmitted. In S334 the CPU 11 determines whether aselection of print data was made through the button input unit 17. TheCPU 11 continually loops back to S334 while the selection has not beenmade (S334: NO) and advances to S336 when the selection has been made(S334: YES). In S336 the CPU 11 controls the mobile telephonetransceiver unit 22 to transmit the selected print data to the proxyserver 71 using the proxy server address. The print data is transmittedthrough e-mail using the proxy server address as the transmissiondestination and the mobile telephone address as the transmission source.In S337 the CPU 11 determines whether data indicating that the printdata was successfully received is received from the proxy server 71. TheCPU 11 continually loops back to S337 while such data has not beenreceived (S337: NO) and returns to S310 when the data has been received(S337: YES).

On the other hand, if the CPU 11 determines in S330 that the print datarequest was not received (S330: NO), in S340 the CPU 11 determineswhether a process to register a proxy server address has been initiated.The process to register a proxy server address is performed to registerthe proxy server address in order to make use of the printing system 1.Here, the proxy server address is the e-mail address of the proxy server71. If the process to register the proxy server address has not beeninitiated (S340: NO), in S350 the CPU 11 executes other processes andsubsequently returns to S310 (see FIG. 8).

However, if the process to register the proxy server address has begun(S340: YES), in S342 the CPU 11 displays a window on the panel 18 forinputting the proxy server address. At this time, the user whoregistered the MFP 51 on the proxy server 71 can input the proxy serveraddress displayed in the display panel 39 of the MFP 51 through thebutton input unit 17 of the mobile telephone 10. In S344 the CPU 11determines whether the proxy server address has been inputted throughthe button input unit 17 and continually loops back to S344 while theproxy server address has not been inputted (S344: NO). When the proxyserver address has been inputted (S344: YES), in S346 the CPU 11 recordsthe inputted proxy server address in the storage unit 12 andsubsequently returns to S310.

Sample Operations of the Printing System

Next, a sample operation performed on the printing system 1 will bedescribed with reference to a sequence diagram in FIG. 10. When the useregistration process is started on the MFP 51 at a time T1 (S110: YES),the MFP 51 transmits a use registration request to the proxy server 71(S112). After the proxy server 71 receives the use registration request(S210: YES), the proxy server 71 reads the MFP identification data fromthe use registration request and stores this data in the storage unit 73(S212). The proxy server 71 also generates the user ID data and storesthis data in the storage unit 73 (S214). Next, the proxy server 71transmits the user ID data and the proxy server address to the MFP 51(S216). The MFP 51 stores the user ID data and the proxy server addressreceived from the proxy server 71 in the storage unit 33 (S116). The MFP51 transmits the user-inputted password and the mobile telephone addressto the proxy server 71 (S122). The proxy server 71 stores the passwordand the mobile telephone address received from the MFP 51 in the tablestorage area 12 b (S220). Next, the proxy server 71 sets the printingstatus to the “initial state.”

When the timing arrives for the print reservation confirmation at a timeT2 (S160: YES), the MFP 51 transmits the print reservation confirmationrequest to the proxy server 71 (S164). After receiving the printreservation confirmation request (S240: YES), the proxy server 71confirms the printing status (S244). Since the printing status is notthe “printing-reserved state” (S244: NO), the proxy server 71 transmitsresponse data to the MFP 51 indicating “print reservation does notexist” (S248). Thus, the MFP 51 determines that the print reservationhas not been made (S168: NO) and sets the print reservation confirmationtimer (S170).

At a time T3 when a print reservation process is started on the mobiletelephone 10 (S310: YES), the mobile telephone 10 transmits the printreservation to the proxy server 71 (S316). Upon receiving the printreservation (S230: YES), the proxy server 71 changes the printing statusto the “printing-reserved state” (S232).

At a time T4 when the timing of the print reservation confirmation hasarrived (S160: YES), the MFP 51 transmits the print reservationconfirmation request to the proxy server 71 (S164). Upon receiving theprint reservation confirmation request (S240: YES), the proxy server 71reconfirms the printing status (S244). Since the printing status is nowthe “printing-reserved state” (S244: YES), the proxy server 71 transmitsresponse data to the MFP 51 indicating “print reservation exists”(S246). The MFP 51 determines that the print reservation has been made(S168: YES) and transmits the print data request to the proxy server 71(S172). Upon determining that the print data request was received fromthe MFP 51 (S260: YES), the proxy server 71 transmits the print datarequest to the mobile telephone 10 (S268). Subsequently, the mobiletelephone 10 receives the print data request (S330: YES).

At a time T5 when the timing for the print data acquisition has arrived(S140: YES), the MFP 51 transmits a print data acquisition request tothe proxy server 71 (S142). Upon receiving the print data acquisitionrequest (S280: YES), the proxy server 71 confirms the printing status(S282). Since the current printing status is not the “data-provisionwaiting state” (S284: NO), the proxy server 71 transmits data to the MFP51 indicating that no print data is currently stored (S289).

At a time T6 when the mobile telephone 10 transmits print data to theproxy server 71 (S336), the proxy server 71 receives (S270: YES) andstores the print data (S276).

At a time T7 when the timing for print data acquisition has arrived(S140: YES), the MFP 51 retransmits the print data acquisition requestto the proxy server 71 (S142). Upon receiving the print data acquisitionrequest (S280: YES), the proxy server 71 confirms the printing status(S282). Since the printing status is currently the “data-provisionwaiting state” (S284: YES), the proxy server 71 transmits the print datato the MFP 51 (S286) and changes the printing status to the “initialstate” (S288). The MFP 51 receives the print data (S146: YES), andexecutes a printing operation based on this print data (S150).

Effects of the Printing System

The printing system 1 according to the embodiment described above hasthe following effects. When the proxy server 71 receives a printreservation from the mobile telephone 10 (S230: YES) and when the proxyserver 71 receives a print data request from the MFP 51 (S260: YES), theproxy server 71 transmits a print data request to the mobile telephone10 (S268). Upon receiving the print data request (S330: YES), the mobiletelephone 10 transmits the print data to the proxy server 71 (S336). Theproxy server 71 relays the print data received from the mobile telephone10 to the MFP 51 (S286).

Through this method, the proxy server 71 need not store actual printdata in the storage unit 73 during the period after the mobile telephone10 has outputted a print reservation and until the print data isreceived by the proxy server 71, but may simply store “printing-reservedstate” as the printing status associated with the MFP identificationdata identified by user ID data and a password included in the printreservation. Since the volume of data used in the printing status ismuch smaller than that of the print data, this technique helps avoidsuch problems as insufficient storage space in the storage unit 73 ofthe proxy server 71.

Further, the proxy server 71 in the embodiment can identify the printingsystem 1 or the MFP 51 based on the received print reservation or theprint data request. Accordingly, the communication of printreservations, print data, and the like between the mobile telephone 10and the MFP 51 can be performed through the proxy server 71.

Further, polling for print data acquisitions (S142) is performed by theMFP 51 at a greater frequency than polling to confirm whether the mobiletelephone 10 has issued a print reservation (S164). This configurationprevents an increase of traffic on the proxy server 71 and can reducethe time required for receiving print data.

Variations of the Embodiment

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to theembodiment thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

The printing system 1 may be configured to display a preview of printdata on the MFP 51 based on a command from the mobile telephone 10. Inthis variation, the mobile telephone 10 may generate preview data fromthe print data such that the preview data is smaller in size than theprint data. For example, the preview data may be of a size sufficientfor displaying a thumbnail image in the display panel 39 of the MFP 51.In S316 (see FIG. 8), the mobile telephone 10 may transmit the previewdata to the proxy server 71 together with a print reservation. The proxyserver 71 receives the print reservation and preview data in S230 (seeFIG. 2) and stores this data in the storage unit 73.

In another variation for displaying a preview, in S316 (see FIG. 8) themobile telephone 10 may be configured to transmit data specifying thelocation of preview data to the proxy server 71 together with a printreservation. An example of data indicating the location of the previewdata is a URL specifying the region on a server in which the previewdata is stored. In this case, the proxy server 71 receives the URL andprint reservation in S230 (see FIG. 2), acquires the preview data usingthe URL, and stores the preview data in the storage unit 73.

In another variation for displaying a preview, in S316 (see FIG. 8) themobile telephone 10 may transmit the print data itself to the proxyserver 71 together with a print reservation. In this case, the proxyserver 71 receives the print data in S230 (see FIG. 2) and stores theprint data in the storage unit 73. The proxy server 71 subsequentlygenerates preview data based on the stored print data and deletes theprint data after the preview data has been generated.

In all of the variations for displaying a preview of the image to beprinted, the proxy server 71 transmits response data specifying “printreservation exists” together with the preview data stored in the storageunit 73 to the MFP 51 in S246 (see FIG. 3). When the MFP 51 determinesin S168 (see FIG. 7) that the status is “print reservation exists,” theMFP 51 displays a thumbnail image on the display panel 39 based on thepreview data, and waits for input indicating whether or not to print theimage. When the user inputs a command to execute the printing operation,the MFP 51 advances to S172 and transmits a print data request to theproxy server 71. In this way, the MFP 51 can display a preview of theprint data so that the user can determine whether or not to print theimage. In S246, the proxy server 71 may transmit the location of thepreview data, and in S168 the MFP 51 may acquire the preview data basedon the location of the preview data.

In the embodiment described above, the print reservation includes dataidentifying the mobile telephone 10 and data identifying the MFP 51.Here, the data identifying the mobile telephone 10 is a mobile telephoneaddress, and data identifying the MFP 51 is user ID data and a password.However, the print reservation may instead include the user ID data butnot the mobile telephone address, for example. In this case, the CPU 72identifies the mobile telephone address stored in the table storage area12 b in association with user ID data identical to the user ID dataincluded in the print reservation and uses this identified mobiletelephone address in subsequent processing. Alternatively, the printreservation may include the mobile telephone address but not the user IDdata. In this case, the CPU 72 identifies the user ID data stored in thetable storage area 12 b in association with a mobile telephone addressidentical to the mobile telephone address included in the printreservation and uses this user ID data in subsequent processing.

There are various methods in which the proxy server 71 can store eachsets of data such that the each sets of data is associated with eachother in S220 of FIG. 2. For example, the MFP identification data may beassociated with the user ID data and password by storing the data insequential memory addresses. Alternatively, the memory address at whichthe MFP identification data is stored and the memory address at whichthe user ID data and password are stored may be stored such that thesememory addresses are associated with each other. The same method may beused for storing the data identifying the MFP 51 and data identifyingthe mobile telephone 10 such that the data identifying the MFP 51 isassociated with the data for identifying the mobile telephone 10. Here,the data identifying the MFP 51 is MFP identification data, user IDdata, and password, and the data identifying the mobile telephone 10 ismobile telephone address.

Further, the table storage area 12 b for storing various correlated dataneed not be provided in the proxy server 71, but may be provided inexternal storage means, such as network storage that is accessible tothe proxy server 71.

Further, the mobile telephone address is data used for identifying themobile telephone 10, but may also be considered data for identifying theuser of the mobile telephone 10. Hence, any data capable of identifyingthe mobile telephone 10, such as a MAC address, an IP address, a serialnumber of the mobile telephone 10, a telephone number of the mobiletelephone 10, or a user code for the mobile telephone 10, may be used inplace of the e-mail address.

The MFP identification data is not limited to a serial number. Any datacapable of identifying individual MFPs may be used as the MFPidentification data, such as a MAC address, an IP address, or a nodename.

Further, the CPU 72 may also return to S210 from S232 when determiningthat the mobile telephone address associated with the user ID data andpassword included in the print reservation is not stored in the tablestorage area 12 b. In other words, when the print reservation receivedfrom the mobile telephone 10 does not include the mobile telephoneaddress received from the MFP 51 when the use registration process wasperformed for the MFP 51, it is possible that the print reservation wasnot received from a valid user. Therefore, in S232 the CPU 72 does notrecognize the received print reservation as a valid reservation.

Further, when the CPU 72 does not recognize the received printreservation as a valid reservation in S232, the CPU 72 may control thecommunication unit 74 to transmit a reservation-denied notification tothe mobile telephone 10.

Further, while the mobile telephone 10 transmits print data using e-mailin S336 (see FIG. 9), another method may be used to transmit print data,provided that the source of the communication can be identified. Theproxy server 71 may also be configured to store data for identifying themobile telephone 10 used for communication purposes, in the same waythat the mobile telephone address was stored in the embodiment, inassociation with data identifying the MFP 51 when performing the useregistration process for registering the MFP 51 on the proxy server 71.Here, the data identifying the MFP 51 is the MFP identification data,user ID data, and password. By storing data identifying the mobiletelephone 10 for communication purposes, the proxy server 71 canidentify mobile telephones that are the source of a transmission,regardless of the method of communications.

Further, the proxy server 71 may store any type of data for identifyingthe mobile telephone 10, such as the IP address of the mobile telephone10, in association with data identifying the MFP 51 during the useregistration request for the MFP 51, even when employing a method ofcommunication with which the transmission source is difficult toidentify. As long as the mobile telephone 10 transmits data capable ofidentifying the mobile telephone 10 with the print data, the proxyserver 71 can identify the transmission source by comparing this data tothe stored data.

There are a variety of other configurations possible for transmittingprint data from the mobile telephone 10 to the proxy server 71 in S336(see FIG. 9). For example, when the mobile telephone 10 receives a printdata request from the proxy server 71 in S330, the mobile telephone 10may be configured to return the print data to the proxy server 71automatically.

Alternatively, in S336 the mobile telephone 10 may be configured totransmit data indicating the location of the print data to the proxyserver 71, such as a URL for the print data. With this configuration,the proxy server 71 acquires the print data in S286 using the dataspecifying the location of the print data, and transmits the acquiredprint data to the MFP 51.

The source from which the proxy server 71 acquires data required tocommunicate with the mobile telephone 10 may also be the mobiletelephone 10 and is not limited to the MFP 51. For example, in S218 (seeFIG. 2) the proxy server 71 need not receive the mobile telephoneaddress from the MFP 51. In this case, in S220 the proxy server 71stores only the received password in the storage unit 73. In S230 theproxy server 71 stores a mobile telephone address included in a printreservation received from the mobile telephone 10 in the table storagearea 12 b of the storage unit 73 in association with data identifyingthe MFP 51. Further, in S268 the proxy server 71 may transmit a printdata request received from the MFP 51 to the mobile telephone 10 usingthe mobile telephone address included in the print reservation receivedfrom the mobile telephone 10, for example.

The proxy server 71 may also be configured to generate a uniquereservation number for each print reservation received from the mobiletelephone 10 and may use this reservation number as the data identifyingthe MFP 51 in place of the user ID data. The proxy server 71 may alsodelete a reservation number used as the data for identifying the MFP 51after transmitting print data to the MFP 51, and may generate separatereservation numbers for new print reservations.

In the embodiment, the mobile telephone 10 transmits data indicating aprint request, the mobile telephone address of the mobile telephone 10,and user ID data and a password for the MFP 51 to the proxy server 71 asa print reservation, and the proxy server 71 confirms the MFPidentification data associated with the user ID data and password inS232. However, the mobile telephone 10 may be configured not to transmituser ID data for the MFP 51 to the proxy server 71 in the printreservation. In this case, in S232 the proxy server 71 may be configuredto confirm the MFP identification data associated with the mobiletelephone address included in the print reservation, in order toidentify the MFP 51. Also in this case, the proxy server 71 need notgenerate user ID data in the use registration process.

The invention is not limited to a printing system 1 that includes asingle mobile telephone 10 and a single MFP 51, but may also be appliedto a printing system 1 possessing a plurality of either or both. In sucha system, the proxy server 71 can receive print data from an unspecifiednumber of mobile telephones 10 and can transfer this print data to MFPs51 associated with each of the mobile telephones 10.

The printing system 1 according to the embodiment controls the MFP 51 toprint the print data based on a command configured of a printreservation from the mobile telephone 10. However, the invention may beapplied to a display system for controlling the MFP 51 to display imagedata based on a command received from the mobile telephone 10. In thiscase, when the proxy server 71 receives a display reservation from themobile telephone 10 (S230: YES) and receives an image data request fromthe MFP 51 (S260: YES), the proxy server 71 transmits the image datarequest to the mobile telephone 10 (S268). Upon receiving this imagedata request (S330: YES), the mobile telephone 10 transmits image datato the proxy server 71 (S336). The proxy server 71 transmits the imagedata received from the mobile telephone 10 to the MFP 51 (S286). Next,the MFP 51 displays the image data received from the proxy server 71 onthe display panel 39 (S150). With this configuration, the proxy server71 need not store image data in the storage unit 73 during the periodafter receiving a display reservation from the mobile telephone 10 untilimage data is received from the mobile telephone 10.

The programs in the embodiment may also be configured as a singleprogram module, or as a plurality of program modules. Each of theportions and the processes in the embodiment given above may be replacedwith a different configuration within the scope of the invention. Forexample, a computer (e.g., the CPU 72) may execute a process based on animage-processing program (e.g., the printing application 28). Thecomputer may execute a process based on programs other than theimage-processing program, such as the operating system or anotherapplication. A hardware configuration may be used to perform operationsaccording to instructions from the computer. The computer and thehardware configuration may be designed to work together. A computer mayalso be used to execute a process by coordinating multiple processesbased on a plurality of programs, and a hardware configuration mayperform operations based on instructions from the computer executing aprocess by coordinating multiple processes based on the plurality ofprograms.

What is claimed is:
 1. A proxy device comprising: a communication unitconfigured to communicate with a plurality of outputting devices and aplurality of instruction devices; and a processor functioning as: anacquiring unit acquiring at least one ofoutputting-device-identification data andinstruction-device-identification data from a storing unit, theoutputting-device-identification data identifying a particularoutputting device from among the plurality of outputting devices, theinstruction-device-identification data identifying a particularinstruction device from among the plurality of instruction devices, thestoring unit storing the outputting-device-identification dataassociated with the instruction-device-identification data; a firstreceiving unit receiving, via the communication unit,instruction-device-identification data and instruction data; a firstdetermining unit determining whether the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data; a first transmitting unittransmitting, via the communication unit, the received instruction datato the particular outputting device in response to determining that theparticular outputting device identified by the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data in the storing unit, theinstruction data instructing the determined outputting device to outputan image; a second receiving unit receiving, via the communication unit,response data from the particular outputting device in response to theinstruction data transmitted by the first transmitting unit; a secondtransmitting unit transmitting, via the communication unit, the receivedresponse data to the instruction device from which the receivedinstruction data is transmitted; a third receiving unit receiving, viathe communication unit, specific data that is transmitted from theinstruction device in response to the response data transmitted to theinstruction device by the second transmitting unit, the specific databeing one of output data based on which the outputting device outputs animage and location data indicating a location in which the output datais stored; and a third transmitting unit transmitting the receivedspecific data to the particular outputting device.
 2. The proxy deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the processor further functions as: afourth receiving unit receiving first request data from the outputtingdevice, the first request data requesting to store, in the storing unit,the received outputting-device-identification data in association withinstruction-device-identification data; and a registering unit storing,in the storing unit, the received outputting-device-identification datain association with the instruction-device-identification data inresponse to the first request data.
 3. The proxy device according toclaim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of theinstruction-device-identification data is stored in the storing unit,and wherein, when the instruction-device-identification data received bythe first receiving unit does not coincide with any of the plurality ofsets of instruction-device-identification data stored in the storingunit, the first transmitting unit does not transmit the instructiondata.
 4. The proxy device according to claim 1, wherein the secondreceiving unit receives the response data including identification datathat identifies the outputting device, wherein the processor furtherfunctions as a second determining unit determining whether theoutputting device identified by the received identification dataincluded in the response data coincides with the outputting deviceidentified by the outputting device identification data that is, in thestoring unit, associated with the instruction-device-identification datareceived by the first receiving unit, wherein the second transmittingunit transmits the response data to the instruction device identified bythe received instruction-device-identification data in response todetermining the outputting device identified by the receivedidentification data included in the response data coincides with theoutputting device identified by the outputting device identificationdata that is, in the storing unit, associated with theinstruction-device-identification data received by the first receivingunit.
 5. The proxy device according to claim 1, wherein the firstreceiving unit receives the instruction-device-identification data, theoutputting-device-identification data, and the instruction data, whereinthe second receiving unit receives the response data includingidentification data that identifies the outputting device, wherein theprocessor further functions as a third determining unit determiningwhether the outputting device identified by the identification dataincluded in the response data coincides with the outputting deviceidentified by the outputting-device-identification data received by thefirst receiving unit, wherein the second transmitting unit transmits theresponse data to the instruction device identified by the receivedinstruction-device-identification data in response to determining thatthe outputting device identified by the identification data included inthe response data coincides with the outputting device identified by theoutputting-device-identification data received by the first receivingunit, wherein in response to receiving the specific data, the thirdtransmitting unit transmits the specific data from the instructiondevice, to the outputting device identified by the identification datareceived as the response data by the second receiving unit.
 6. The proxydevice according to claim 5, wherein the processor further functions as:a fourth receiving unit receiving first request data from the outputtingdevice, the first request data requesting to store, in the storing unit,the received outputting-device-identification data in association withinstruction-device-identification data; and a registering unit storing,in the storing unit, the received outputting-device-identification datain association with the instruction-device-identification data inresponse to the first request data, wherein the processor furtherfunctions as a fourth determining unit determining whether theinstruction-device-identification data received by the first receivingunit coincides with the instruction-device-identification data stored inthe storing unit, wherein the first transmitting unit transmits thereceived instruction data to the outputting device identified by theoutputting-device-identification data received by the first receivingunit in response to determining that theinstruction-device-identification data received by the first receivingunit coincides with the instruction-device-identification data stored inthe storing unit.
 7. The proxy device according to claim 6, wherein aplurality of sets of the instruction-device-identification data isstored in the storing unit, wherein the processor further functions as afifth determining unit determining whether theoutputting-device-identification data does not coincide with any of theplurality of sets of the instruction-device-identification data storedin the storing unit, wherein the first transmitting unit does nottransmit the instruction data in response to determining that theoutputting-device-identification data does not coincide with any of theplurality of sets of the instruction-device-identification data storedin the storing unit.
 8. The proxy device according to claim 2, whereinthe processor further functions as: a fifth receiving unit receiving,from the outputting device, second request data andoutputting-device-identification data identifying the outputting device,the second request data requesting to record outputting-deviceidentification data identifying the outputting device; and a recordingunit recording the outputting-device identification data in the storingunit in response to the request data received by the fifth receivingunit, wherein in response to the first request data received by thefourth receiving unit, the registering unit stores theoutputting-device-identification data recorded by the recording unit inassociation with the instruction device identification data.
 9. Theproxy device according to claim 1, wherein the processor furtherfunctions as: a sixth receiving unit receiving, from the outputtingdevice, third request data requesting to record instruction-deviceidentification data; a generating unit generating theinstruction-device-identification data; and a sixth transmitting unittransmitting the generated instruction-device-identification data to theoutputting device from which the second request data is received. 10.The proxy device according to claim 1, wherein the processor furtherfunctions as: a fifth receiving unit receiving, from the outputtingdevice, second request data and outputting-device-identification dataidentifying the outputting device, the second request data requesting torecord outputting-device identification data identifying the outputtingdevice; and a recording unit recording theoutputting-device-identification data in the storing unit in response tothe second request data received by the fifth receiving unit, whereinthe third transmitting unit transmits the received specific data to theoutputting device identified by the outputting-device-identificationdata that is recorded in the storing unit, when the first receiving unitreceives the instruction-device-identification data and the instructiondata from the instruction device that has performed a recordationprocess for sending the instruction data to the outputting deviceidentified by the outputting-device-identification data recorded in thestoring unit.
 11. The proxy device according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor further functions as a determining unit determines whether toallow the image outputting device to output the image, wherein theresponse data is transmitted from the image outputting device of whichthe determining unit performs determination.
 12. The proxy deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the outputting device performs at leastone of printing the image and displaying the image based on the outputdata.
 13. The proxy device according to claim 1, wherein the instructiondata includes one of the output data and preview data indicating apreview image of the output data, wherein the processor furtherfunctions as: a seventh receiving unit receiving preview request datafrom the outputting device; and a seventh transmitting unit transmitsone of preview data generated by the processor, preview data included inthe instruction data, and preview acquiring data used to acquire previewdata, to the outputting device from which the preview request data isreceived, wherein the second transmitting unit transmits the receivedresponse data to the instruction device when the second receiving unitreceives the response data from the outputting device to which theseventh transmitting unit transmits the one of the preview datagenerated by the processor, the preview data included in the instructiondata, and the preview acquiring data used to acquire preview data. 14.The proxy device according to claim 13, wherein the processor furtherfunctions as: an image storing unit storing the output data included inthe instruction data; a preview generating unit generating the previewdata; and a deleting unit deletes the output data from the storing unitafter the preview generating unit generates the preview data.
 15. Theproxy device according to claim 1, comprising the storing unit.
 16. Theproxy device according to claim 1, wherein the storing unit is providedon a network as a network storage device.
 17. A system comprising aproxy server, a plurality of outputting devices communicable with theproxy server via a local area network and Internet, and a plurality ofinstruction devices communicable with the proxy server, the proxy devicecomprising: a communication unit configured to communicate with aplurality of outputting devices and a plurality of instruction devices;and a processor functioning as: an acquiring unit acquiring at least oneof outputting-device-identification data andinstruction-device-identification data from a storing unit, theoutputting-device-identification data identifying a particularoutputting device from among the plurality of outputting devices, theinstruction-device-identification data identifying a particularinstruction device from among the plurality of instruction devices, thestoring unit storing the outputting-device-identification dataassociated with the instruction-device-identification data; a firstreceiving unit receiving, via the communication unit,instruction-device-identification data and instruction data; a firstdetermining unit determining whether the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data; a first transmitting unittransmitting, via the communication unit, the received instruction datato the particular outputting device in response to determining that theparticular outputting device identified by the acquiredoutputting-device-identification data is associated with the receivedinstruction-device-identification data in the storing unit, theinstruction data instructing the determined outputting device to outputan image; a second receiving unit receiving, via the communication unit,response data from the particular outputting device in response to theinstruction data transmitted by the first transmitting unit; a secondtransmitting unit transmitting, via the communication unit, the receivedresponse data to the instruction device from which the receivedinstruction data is transmitted; a third receiving unit receiving, viathe communication unit, specific data that is transmitted from theinstruction device in response to the response data transmitted to theinstruction device by the second transmitting unit, the specific databeing one of output data based on which the outputting device outputs animage and location data indicating a location in which the output datais stored; and a third transmitting unit transmitting the receivedspecific data to the particular outputting device.